Light-shading device



H. E. OW EN.

LIGHT SHADING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.23. I921.

Patented June 20; 1922.

FIG. I;

UNITED STATE PATENT orrics.

HARRY E. OWEN, OF MUFTCIE, INDIANA.

LIGHT-SHADING- DEVICE.

Application filed April 23, 19 21. Serial N' o. 4G3,81 8,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, HARRY E. OWEN, a citizen f the United States, residing at Muncie, in the county of Delaware and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Light-Shading Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in light-shading devices, and has for its purposes to provide a device capable of being easily installed, and which may readily be manipulated to shade or screen, in varying degree, the light, or the heat of the sun.

The invention is embodied in a lightshading device of construction and arrangementto be installed at the front of the automobile, the connections being adapted for its installation at the upper portion of the wind shield, and at position of easy access by the driver of the car.

Objects ofthe invention are to provide a device, of the kind described which is economical of manufacture, dependable, and not liable to become deranged or to get out of repair.-

The objects of my invention are accomplished by, andthe invention is embodiedin the new construction, combination and arrangement'of parts described in the following specification, and illustrated in the ac companying drawings. The invention is defined in the appended claims.

Inthe drawings the several parts of the invention as they appear in the different views, are identified by suitable characters of reference.

Figure 1 is a front view of my improved,

lightshading device.

Figure 2 is a side view, in the direction indicated by, the arrow 2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side view; portions of the device being shown in cross sec tion.

Figure 4' is a view, in the direction indicated by the arrow 4: in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional View on the line 55 in Figure 4:, and

Figure 6 is a cross section view taken on the line 66 in Figure 4:.

This invention contemplates the arrangement of supports capable of being attached to the wind shield, a curtain arranged on a roller having its ends journaled in said supports, means carried by the supports and connected to the curtain and that are so arranged that the curtain is normally at lowered or unrolled position, and manually op erable means to so function with the roller, that the curtainmay be easily rolled up entirely, or may be rolled uponly partially, and that the roller maybe secured atdiiferent positions, the bottom edge of the curtain being retained at different desired heights accordingly.

The preferred form of constructionand arrangement of the several combined-parts, is that shown in the drawings, it being understood that minor changes may be made in the forms and details, without departing from-the nature and spirit of the invention, or sacrificing any of its advantages.

The curtain roller A may be of metal tubing of suitable gauge and diameter as shown, and throughout its length are pro: vided perforations to receive fasteners B that firmlysecure the edge of the curtain C. The curtain is, dimensioned in width to suit the width of wind-shield that forms, a part of the automobile equipment, and is made of suitable fabric, such; as canvasor leather cloth. The lower edge ofthe curtain has an openhem, in whichis disposed a stifi bar or rodiD. The rod D ispreferably of tubular construction which while light in weight is of suflicient stiffness. roller, A are secured heads. which have integrally formed journals A and A". On the shouldered portion A of one of the heads, a grooved ring 01" wheel E is secured, and adjacent thereto is secured a circular ratchet F. Secured to the ends of the rod D, are journals D that have integrally formed heads D Adapted to be secured at positions a spaced distance apart are the supports. Each support consists of a cast metal column G, near whose top is a transverse bore which constitutes a bearing for the journals A and A of the roller. H" designates a pawl whose tooth engages the ratchet F, and

whose arm is of a downwardly curved form as shown in Figure 3. This-pawl is pivoted on a stud I, and at the end of the arm is formed the eye H The free end of the cable or cord J that is wound over and has secure connection in the groove of wheel E, is passed through the eye H of the pawl arm H and it may be provided with a handle or ball J The body portion of the support G is cylindrical in cross section, but at the lower At the ends of the,

portion is of open form with parallel side walls G that support a-transverse pin K The arm L journaled on the pin K, has an integrally formed grooved quadrant L A cable M has a flanged head M N designates a strong. helical spring which occupies the bore of the support G and whose upper end bears against the underside of the head M The seat plug 0 (and through whose central bore, the cable M is free to move), is screwed to the position shown,-and a 'ainst its top bears the bottom of the spring A knot or washer M on the bottom of the cable occupies a countersink in the lower side of the quadrant L A lug L on the armL has bearing against the edge of the wall G when the arm is at extreme lower position. The headed studs or journals D? are retained in the open ends of the arms L and L by cotter pins P.

A sheet metal housing Q having the upwardly turned rearward edge and having its frontal portion curved downwardly, constitutes a housing, by which the roller and curtain when folded to the dotted line position, is shielded from the elements.

The 6preferred form for securing the supports in position, are clamping pieces R whose forward portions grip the supports G and whose rearward portions grip the frame members 2 of the windshield, and are bound at tenacious contact with the said parts, by bolts R The positions of the several parts, when the invention is at operative position with the curtain extended, are those shown in the drawing. The action of the spring N is to urge the arms L to lowered position, thereby maintaining a tension on the curtain C, the turning of the roller A being checked by the pawl H. To raise the curtain, the operator pulls downwardly on the cord J causing the roller A to move rotatively, and which roller in such movement is checked, and is prevented from reverse movement, by

the pawl H. Thus, the curtain may be raised to the folded or rolled up position as shown by the dotted lines. To lower the cur tain, a pull rearwardly of the cord J against the eye H disengages the tooth of the pawl H from the ratchet F, permitting the arms L to assume a lower position, and the cur tain being accordingly lowered. Repeated operating of the pawl in the manner just described results in the further lowering of the curtain to the desired height. When thus lowered to the height desired the release by the operator, of the cord, permits the pawl to remain at its engagement with the ratchet F, thus holding the roller A against movement.

What is claimed, as my invention, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. A light shading device, comprising a roller, a grooved wheel secured thereto a curtain secured to the roller, a rod to which the outer end of the curtain is secured, support members, fastening devices to maintain the support members at spaced distance apart, arms hinged to the support members and having the outer ends connected loosely to the ends of the curtain rod, springs to urge the said arms to lowered position, a

ratchet on the curtain roller, a pawl to engage the ratchet, a cord wound over the grooved wheel, and an arm for the said pawl provided with an eye at its lower end, the said cord being passed through said eye, substantially as described.

2. A light shading device, comprising a roller, a curtain secured to the roller, support members, arms hinged to the support members and having their ends connected to the lower ends of the curtain, extender means to urge the said arms to lowered position, a ratchet on the curtain roller, a pawl to engage the ratchet, a downwardly disposed arm for the pawl having an eye at its lower end, and a cord wound on the roller and being passed through the eye of said arm.

3. A light shading device, comprising a roller, a grooved wheel secured thereto, a curtain secured to the roller, a rod to which the outer end of the curtain is secured, support members, fastening devices to maintain the support members at spaced distance apart, a shelter housing carried by the support members at position above the roller, arms hinged to the support members and having their outer ends connected loosely to the ends of the curtain rod, a spring to urge the said arms to extended position, a ratchet .HLARRY E. OWEN. 

